RESEARCH REPORT 1. Name: Brian Scott Aitken （ID No.: SP11001） 2. Current affiliation: University of Florida 3. Research fields and specialties: Chemistry 4. Host institution: Kyoto University 5. Host researcher: Chujo Yoshiki 6. Description of your current research. Using acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET), we synthesized and photophysically characterized a set of charge transporting materials (conductive plastics) where the charge mobility (similar to conductivity) was controlled by precise variation of the distance between conductive moieties along inert polymer backbones. This work was designed for eventual application as charge transporting layers in light emitting diodes (LEDs) to be studied at a later date at the University of Florida. Using current NSF support (DMR-0703261), we have already demonstrated and published on the utility of ADMET in the preparation of regioregular electroactive polyolefins (a new type of light emitting layer in LEDs) therefore this work was a simple extension of earlier research but required instrumentation (a time of flight charge mobility analyzer) available at Kyoto University and not at UF. While the effect of distance on photophysics in small molecules has been well documented, no such study as the kind conducted here has been undertaken for a polymeric system. This work has provided both a deeper understanding of the relative importance of various structural parameters to charge mobility in polymers (plastics which are much easier and cheaper to process and manufacture than other current electronic materials) while demonstrating a new method for control thereof and is thus of utmost importance to the field of organic electronics. Moreover, as global economic development continues, the field of organic electronics will remain one of the most actively studied due to the ever increasing demand for economical and energy efficient electronic devices, particularly those used for lighting and solar energy conversion. 7. Research implementation and results under the program Title of your research plan: Control of Charge Mobility in Electroactive Polyolefins through Modification of Chromophore-Chromophore Distance and Their Potential Application to OLEDs Description of the research activities: My daily activities included running organic synthesis reactions and purification of products by various methods including column chromatography, recrystallization, sublimation, distillation, reprecipitation, and Soxhlet extraction. My normal work schedule was significantly less than my Japanese coworkers but was approximately 10-12 hours/day, Mon-Sat. A large set of hole transporting (+ charge conduction) polymers were synthesized and characterized via UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, various thermal and mechanical measurements, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and charge mobility measurements (a measure of conduction of one particular charge type, either electrons or holes, + charges). By carrying out this work, we have confirmed the ability to control hole mobility in polymers; this will prove invaluable to efforts towards efficiency optimization of organic light emitting diodes which are currently among the most researched electronic devices. Furthermore, since I finished my proposed work near the end of July, I decided to begin work on another project in collaboration with one of Chujo Sensei‘s students, Imoto Hiroaki. While working with him, I synthesized and characterized a new organic molecule (a diphosphenylcyclohexane) to be used as a new polymeric transition metal ligand. 8. Please add your comments, including any cultural experience during your stay in Japan (if any): While the science I conducted here was interesting, other than access to a few additional instruments, nothing was particularly different from my daily laboratory activities in the states. Therefore, the most valuable and interesting experiences for me were cultural, though I have the space to focus here on only the one I have found most moving: the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fugi. Before climbing, I read many guides written by those who had made the journey; some described it as incredibly difficult while others quoted stories of old men climbing in sandals and shorts. I was wary of the latter tales; however they had the unfortunate effect of minimizing my concern for the elements I would soon experience on Fugi-san. I ended up hiking the trail with sufficient food for two days but with only jeans, a t-shirt, and a remarkably nonwaterproof jacket. I embarked on the Fujinomiya trail along with about 100 other people, my foolish plan being to hike to the top and back in one day to catch the latest bus back to Mishima station. After a grueling 5 hour climb (not the hike I was expecting) to the 9th station, I realized then that I would not make it in time to return that night; I began to panic but to my astonished delight found vacancy at the 9th station hut. After sleeping for only a few hours, I and many others began the surreal experience of climbing that last kilometer with headlamps at 2:00 AM in 20+ km/h 2-3 oC wind, rain, and fog. After reaching the top at 3:30 AM and waiting in the rain for the indescribably beautiful sunrise at 4:30, I could not honestly believe what I was doing and that I had only needed to write a simple 10 page proposal on light emitting diodes to get there…free of charge. RESEARCH REPORT 1. Name: Erica Anderson （ID No.: SP11002） 2. Current affiliation: University of Florida 3. Research fields and specialties: Biological Sciences 4. Host institution: Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience 5. Host researcher: Dr. Taisen Iguchi 6. Description of your current research Endocrine disrupting chemicals interfere with hormonal balance and can impact reproduction and development. Several species of aquatic animals that live downstream of paper mills have abnormal characteristics that indicate exposure to endocrine disruptors. In the state of Florida, one species of freshwater fish—the mosquitofish—has been observed with abnormal male secondary sexual characteristics at three paper mill-impacted sites. My dissertation project will evaluate how female mosquitofish downstream of paper mills exhibit the characteristics that only male mosquitofish normally have. A combination of lab experiments and field work will be used to determine the role of gene expression in the development of the male secondary sexual characteristic, the anal fin. In the lab, female mosquitofish will be exposed to endocrine disruptors (androgens) that are known to cause anal fin growth. Changes in the expression of genes known to regulate anal fin growth in other fish species will be monitored to determine the role of these pathways in mosquitofish anal fin growth. Further analysis of gene interactions will be determined using mosquitofish fry exposed to androgens and chemicals that can inhibit these genes. Hepatic gene expression analysis will be conducted on the androgen-exposed female mosquitofish using a microarray to quantify the expression of thousands of genes at once. This microarray data will be compared to microarray data from the masculinized female mosquitofish found downstream of paper mills to determine if these fish are being exposed to a chemical that acts like an androgen. A biomarker of reproductive health will also be measured in paper mill field samples to determine if masculinized female mosquitofish may be impaired in their ability to reproduce. Results from this project will enable the mosquitofish to be further developed into an organism that can be sampled from polluted environments to determine the environmental impacts of paper mill effluents and other endocrine disruptors. This research will also provide information on how paper mill effluents in the state of Florida are acting as endocrine disruptors and if this exposure is linked to potential reproductive effects. 7. Research implementation and results under the program Title of your research plan: ―Molecular mechanisms of secondary sexual characteristic development in mosquitofish‖ Description of the research activities: When I first arrived in Dr. Iguchi‘s lab, I set up several mosquitofish androgen exposures to obtain tissue samples for several different types of analyses. I exposed mosquitofish fry and adult females to the non-aromatizable androgen 17beta-trenbolone and took samples during the exposures to determine the changes in gene expression and tissue morphology. Two new techniques that I learned while working in the laboratory include in situ hybridization and histology. I was able to qualitatively observe changes in the expression of the gene Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) in the anal fins of the androgen-treated adult female mosquitofish and the mosquitofish fry. I also took tissue slices from the androgen-treated adult female anal fins and gonads to observe changes in tissue structure after androgen treatment. I also spent some time working with more familiar techniques such as cloning and qualitative PCR in order to synthesize probes for the in situ hybridization and to quantify gene expression changes at additional time points in the androgen-treated fry. 8. Please add your comments, including any cultural experience during your stay in Japan (if any): During my time in Okazaki, I traveled to Nagoya, Inuyama, Mount Takao, Kyoto, and Tokyo to experience what life in Japan was like outside of my home city. Along with sightseeing around these cities, I also attended a kabuki performance while in Tokyo and greatly enjoyed this experience. I also took a karate class, which has been one of my favorite parts about living in Japan. I was able to learn more about this martial art and the culture of budo, and was also fortunate to meet the grandmaster of the karate school and talk with him individually about the karate culture. I also obtained an English translation of The Tale of Genji; I have only read a small portion of the book so far but I am greatly enjoying this glimpse into life in medieval Japan. RESEARCH REPORT 1. Name: Kelli Baalman （ID No.: SP11003） 2. Current affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine 3. Research fields and specialties: Biological Sciences 4.